Chandrababu Naidu confirms Telugu Desam Party and Pawan Kalyan's JSP joining BJP

Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on March 9 confirmed his Telugu Desam Party and actor Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party have joined hands with the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh elections, which are expected to take place simultaneously.

Addressing reporters, Naidu expressed confidence in sweeping the elections.

"Andhra Pradesh has been destroyed badly. The BJP and the TDP coming together is a win-win situation for the country and the state," Naidu told a group of reporters here while lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

The alliance will sweep the polls in Andhra Pradesh, he asserted, lashing out at the YSR Congress, which is in power in the southern state.

Though an official announcement on seat sharing is awaited, the PTI news agency, quoting sources, reported that Naidu's Telugu Desam Party may contest in 17 Lok Sabha seats and 145 Assembly seats. Kalyan's Jana Sena party will contest in two Lok Sabha seats and the BJP in six.

The three parties sealed their alliance following a second round of talks involving their senior leaders on Saturday, sources said.

The deal was clinched at the second round of talks involving TDP supremo Naidu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan.

The Lok Sabha and Assembly polls will be held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh.

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